If you are thinking about ending your marriage, or are currently in the divorce process, the most important thing you need to do is accept responsibility for the outcome of your divorce. Due to a woman’s standard of living generally drops at least thirty percent after a divorce, the decisions that you make now can have a considerable effect on your future.

It is wise to establish a plan of action instead of going into your divorce blindly. Begin by educating yourself and learning about what the divorce laws are in your specific state. If it is certain that your marriage will end, be sure to use the following divorce considerations to protect yourself. Most importantly, if your spouse has initiated proceedings, do not sign anything until you are represented and informed by your own attorney. Be sure to retain your own attorney to level the playing field and have fair representation if necessary.

Divorce Considerations on a Financial Status: Consider consulting a financial planner that is skilled in divorce proceedings. They can help prepare you financially before you start your divorce, and point out areas of your settlement that will have repercussions in the future. Keep the following suggestions in mind as you think about divorce:

Do not make any big purchases that will add to your debt.

Start to save money now for emergencies before and after your divorce.

Put a freeze on all your joint credit card accounts.

Keep working to secure your own future.

If you have your paycheck automatically deposited into a joint account, set up an individual account, and have the deposits made to it.

Keep all individual assets separate

Think about Support after the Divorce:

You are eligible for maintenance and child support during separation and divorce proceeding.

Divorce Considerations on Property and Assets: Consider the tax implications of any property received in the settlement

The marital home is exempt from this tax, but be realistic about whether you can really afford to live there.

A cash settlement is preferable to installment payments as part of a divorce settlement.

Divorce Considerations on Taxes and Liens:

Contact federal and state tax departments to see if there are any outstanding taxes owed. Remember that you will be held just as liable as your ex.

Check at the county court house to see if there are any liens placed on any of your property. Think twice before receiving such property in a settlement, unless your ex can pay off the lien before the divorce is finalized.

Divorce Considerations on Documents and Records: It is important to have copies of all records and accounts, since they have a way of disappearing once proceedings have begun. With copies, you have all the relevant information that you will need in the future.

Before you begin your divorce process, attached are five simple financial tips that can make your divorce a bit easier.

Tip # 1

Be sure to copy all of your legal documents and gather all of your financial information that you have accumulated over the duration of the marriage

First you will need to get a hold of all your finances like never before. Whether you are a financial pro or whether you have not worked outside the home in years. You will need to know everything possible in regards to your finances for the divorce. One reason it is so critical to do this before the divorce process begins is that this information can often disappear once the divorcing begins. It can become more difficult to find regardless of the cause or circumstances. How can you know or plan for what to divide if you don’t know what you currently have?
Tip # 2

Begin to seek out expert advice to help you figure out what is next

Some of the financial information you’ve collected above you can start establishing your priorities. This may not sound like a financial step on the face of it but when you sit down and write the things that you’d like to have from your marriage, or try to envision what you might like or need in order to carry on into the future – these can and will actually be translated into numbers. Do you think you and the children want to stay in the same neighborhood or house? Do you want to hold onto most or all of your pension? If these are your priorities they will have a range of dollar signs eventually attached to them.
Tip # 3

Protect your Credit

Order a copy of your credit report early from all three reporting agencies: This is very important since you can now have this as a base line to know where you stand now, at the end of your marriage. This way you’d be able to see whether any new unauthorized debt is being added in your name only and if you have no credit in your own name now, you may want to apply for a credit card. To begin building your own credit now may be far easier while still married than after, all things being equal, especially if you have not been the primary breadwinner.
Tip # 4

Check up on your Insurance
Get to know the details of all the kinds of insurance that helps to protect your family.

Just the sheer number of types of insurance may be overwhelming, but take it one step at a time. The goal is to get your hands around what coverage’s your family has and needs. What are your policy numbers deductibles, limits, premiums? Life, car, medical, dental, home-owners, renters, flood, insurance and the list goes on and on. How important it is to keep your insurance related financial issues in order can not be over emphasized. One example: On your life insurance policies, it’s really quite important that you locate and know now about who are the owners of the insurance – you, your wife/husband? A family trust, your spouse, your children? Knowing this now is essential if for no other reason, you’ll now have this on your radar.

Tip # 5

Be sure to have your taxes prepared in a way that you will be comfortable for sometime

If it is tax season and you are preparing for a divorce, this may be notice that you should proceed with caution. Be sure to contact your accountant or financial adviser and have him or her advise you not only the possible tax savings now that married jointly filing couples enjoy, but also on the potential future liability you could face in should the returns be found deficient. Know that on returns where you sign jointly, you will be jointly held responsible. This is most often the case whether or not you have any first hand knowledge of the all the financial information on your return.
As always, the best offense is a good defense and to arm you with knowledge is often the best first step in trying to achieve an equitable, fair outcome. By trying to anticipate problems ahead of time you may avoid serious financial issues. Be sure to get good advice throughout your entire process starting as early as possible in the process.

Now that you have a few pointers to remember during your divorce process, now is the time to decide how you want to go about your divorce. There are several ways that you choose from. These days many people are choosing to do there own divorce online. This way not only saves you time but can also save you a lot of money as well. You can begin this specific state down-loadable divorce process by simply going to www.mydivorcedocuments.com today.

Hiring an Attorney is not mandatory. You are able to represent yourself. However, given the complex of all the issues that can occur, it would help with hiring a lawyer who is familiar with the law and experience.

How is the divorce commenced?

An action for divorce is commenced by the personal service of a summons upon your spouse. Sometimes, the summons is accompanied by the complaint which sets forth the grounds for the divorce.

What are the grounds for divorce?

In some states, there are six grounds for divorce. Of the six grounds, four of them are based on the “fault” of one of the parties. They are:

cruel and inhuman treatment

abandonment for one or more years

imprisonment for three or more years

adultery.

Living apart for one year under a separation judgment granted by a Court or under a separation agreement signed by the parties are the two grounds that are not fault based.

Can I receive child support or maintenance before I am divorced?

Yes. You can make a motion requesting that the Court grant you temporary maintenance and/or child support. If ordered to pay, your spouse will be required to you these sums during the action for divorce. Keep in mind that every divorce is unique in its own way.

I cannot afford a lawyer. What should I do?

In addition to ordering your spouse to pay you maintenance or child support during the divorce, the court could require your spouse to pay your attorney and any experts you may need to hire.

Will marital fault impact on my rights to a property settlement?

Generally, marital fault does not impact on the economic issues of the divorce. However, there are exceptions, particularly when one spouse is found to have wasted marital assets.

How quickly can I be divorced?

There is no way to predict how long it will take to obtain a divorce. The time it takes to obtain a divorce differs from case to case and is solely dependent upon the extent to which the divorce and any of the related issues are contested.

If the divorce is not contested (that is, both spouses agree to the divorce and have worked out all issues relating to the division of marital assets, child custody and support), the divorce can be processed by the Court and granted quite quickly.

Can my spouse and I retain the same attorney?

No. Divorce, even when uncontested, is an adversarial process. You and your spouse have conflicting interests. Since an attorney could only represent one of your interests, it would be improper and unethical for an attorney to represent both spouses.

How much will a divorce cost?

The cost of the divorce is directly related to the complexity of the case and to the extent to which the issues are contested. An uncontested divorce will obviously cost much less than a divorce where, for example, there exist hotly contested issues as to child custody or the division of marital assets.

An attorney will generally require the payment of a retainer at the outset of the representation. You can expect to be billed on an hourly basis for work performed in the course of the representation. If the initial retainer was insufficient to cover all the legal fees and costs, you will receive periodic invoices, which you are expected to pay promptly.

In addition to paying your attorney, you will be responsible to pay court filing fees and the other costs incurred in the course of the divorce.

What if my spouse does not consent to a divorce?
Even if your spouse does not want a divorce, you may still be able to obtain one; your spouse cannot force your to remain married. In a contested divorce, you will be forced to prove, at trial, that the grounds for the divorce are true. If you can prove your case, you will be granted at divorce. On the other hand, if you fail to establish grounds for divorce, then your divorce will be denied.

Is there always a trial?

No. A lot of cases are able to settle. While it may appear at the commencement of your case that the divorce will be contested and that you will be forced to go to trial that it is seldom the case. It generally takes some time for the parties to work out all the details of the divorce. Often with the aid of the parties attorneys and the intervention of the court, the parties are able to work out their differences and, ultimately, settle the divorce.

Will the Court papers in my divorce become public records which anyone can read?

No. By law, in order to protect the parties privacy, the courts limit access to papers in matrimonial cases to court personnel, the parties and their attorneys.

Now that you are a bit familiar on what to expect during your divorce you can simply begin your divorce process now. Simply go to www.mydivorcedocuments.com and start your low cost no-attorney specific state divorce process now.

One of the situations that we see in many family situations is where one spouse is the primary caretaker of the financial responsibilities for the family. This person may have been in charge of paying the bills, making investment decisions (stocks, bonds, real estate, etc.), maintaining insurances (health, life, disability, long-term care), managing the credit cards, and filing taxes during the marriage.

As you consider the impact of a divorce, we understand that if you have not been involved with these activities that they can be daunting to you and can cause a considerable amount of stress when dealing with these issues for the first time.

No matter what your situation, your divorce attorney, divorce financial planner or the domestic relations court is going to need this financial information. Some topics will apply to you and others will not. Take the time to investigate and list out your financial assets and liabilities. This inventory will help you and/or your advisors assess your financial condition and will provide a basis to make recommendations that best fit your overall divorce financial strategy.

It is important to identify all of your assets and liabilities. The court is looking to split your assets and liabilities in a fair and equitable allocation between you and your former spouse. It is in your best interest to be up front and honest by that, we mean do not hide assets, income sources, or liabilities. You have the potential to be found in contempt of court and could have some very negative financial penalties imposed on you through the settlement divorce process.

Below is a listing of some of the financial areas that you will need to identify and value:

Real Estate

Bank Accounts

Retirement Accounts (IRA, 401k, Etc)

Investment Accounts (Brokerage)

Physical Securities (Stocks, Bonds, Etc)

Life Insurance Policies

Business Interest(s) (Partnership)

Other Personal Property (Auto, Artwork, Antiques, Etc.)

Secured Debts (Mortgages, Auto Loans, Etc.)

Unsecured Debts (Credit Cards, Personal Loans, Etc.)

If you are unsure of how to gather this information, or are concerned that you will have a difficult locating all of the pertinent facts, you may consider hiring a professional financial expert such as a certified accountant, certified financial planner, or certified public accountant to guide you through this process.

In the interest of getting a fair settlement, it is imperative that you get a clear financial snapshot of all assets and liabilities. This will provide the foundation to putting together a sound financial divorce strategy and will hopefully put you in a good position to start your new independent financial life.

Always tell the truth and do not break any promises or lie to your children.

Do not fight or yell in front of your children for it may scare or worry them even more during the divorce process.

Continue to stay involved with your children and help your children with their homework, sports, etc.

Always keep your children updated and share all information that is relevant to them with them.

Listen to your children and always pay attention to them.

Always have patience with your children and try not to get too upset during emotional times.

When you’re angry, do not take out your aggressions on your children.

Be sure to communicate your feeling with your children always keep the lines of communication open for them.

Basic Rights for the Children during a Divorce

Do not ever ask your children to choose sides between you and your spouse.

Do not tell your children all the horrible details going on between you and your spouse.

Do not badmouth one another in front of your children or to your children.

Always give the right to privacy of one anothers conversations for either parent on the phone or visitation rights.

Always keep the right to not cross examine your children after they have visited the other parent.

Do not ask your children to relate messages between you and your spouse. This is where communication between you and your spouse is very important for the kids sanity.

The right not to be used as a confidant regarding the legal proceedings between the parents.

Do not take the rights of your child’s feelings away due to another parent.

Always be sure to keep the right to be protected from parental warfare.

Be sure to always reassure your children and not make them feel guilty for loving both parents.

Now that you have been educated on some very good pointers for your divorce process, you are ready to take the next step. If you are able to come to an agreement with your spouse on all terms then you are ready to begin your divorce. You can simply go to www.mydivorcedocuments.com and begin your low cost specific state divorce today.

If you are 100% SURE that you want a divorce, be sure to protect every aspect of your life :

1. Speak to a Marriage Counselor or another certified specialist who may be able to help you save your marriage.

Even if you don’t think there’s hope for the marriage, “divorce counseling” can help you discover what went wrong, how to cope, and how to pick up the pieces and go on. Don’t wait for your spouse to participate.

Leaving the house without a good reason may cause you to pay alimony or may result in your inability to collect alimony. If you leave the house, you may also be unable to return until after a court divides the property. This process might take more than a year. The best advice is to stay in the house until after you talk with an attorney unless your spouse is violent. If your spouse is violent, you must take all steps necessary to protect yourself and your children.

4. If you have been involved in any extramarital affairs, talk to a lawyer before you discuss this with your spouse or anyone else.

In this case, honesty may not be the best policy. In addition to the fact that adultery is illegal in some states, admission of an affair can have other consequences. If your spouse is a candidate for alimony, any illicit sexual behavior on your part (during the marriage…which includes the time you are separated) could end up costing you thousands in additional alimony payments.

5. Take concrete steps to safeguard your assets before you and your spouse begin discussing divorce. Get the divorce facts online without hiring an attorney.

One of these steps is to take possession of certain assets during separation, especially those assets you wish to be using, such as furniture and vehicles, and those assets that might be liquidated by your spouse, including precious gems and stones, other collectibles, cash, and bearer bonds.

One of life’s most difficult questions you may run into is if you should end a marriage or not. Many people are unsure as to whether they will pursue a divorce or want to understand the process for acquiring one. Knowledge can be very empowering and may help you think more clearly as to how you wish to handle the issues within your marriage. This article gives a basic overview of the stages of a divorce case.

In some cases you may not automatically want to file your Divorce Complaint, although there may be reasons you wish to do so. In this case you may want to try and resolve the issues that are relevant to considering ending your marriage. If you have come to the final decision of moving forward with a divorce and feel there is no hope left then you need to start your divorce process. During this time, you will likely exchange whatever information needed to have disclosure on financial issues. You can even work with mediators or care professionals, if necessary, in order to resolve any conflicts with regard to custody and parenting time of your children. Once the settlement is reached, it is reduced to writing and executed by the parties and counsel. At this time, the parties can file the pleadings to obtain a divorce and seek enforcement of the agreement they have reached.

In the event that the circumstances of your case force you to file your divorce pleadings immediately rather than pursue pre-filing settlement options as discussed above, then your case will proceed differently. The filing of the Divorce Complaint has an important impact. Generally speaking, it establishes the termination date of your marriage and is the date by which assets of a marriage are identified and valued. The filing of the Divorce Complaint also triggers many court deadlines for moving your case forward. For example, your spouse will have thirty-five days to respond to the pleading that you filed. From there, you and your spouse will prepare financial disclosure forms called Case Information Statements. These forms will be filed with the court.

You will also begin a process called “discovery” in which you and your spouse will have a certain fixed period of time to respond to formal requests for information. These demands are called “Interrogatories,” which are written questions, to which you must respond, and a “Notice to Produce,” or a demand for documents, to which you will also have to respond by producing the documents requested in the demand. Depositions may also occur during this discovery period. Depositions consist of a series of questions that you and your spouse answer under oath. The attorney representing your spouse asks you the questions; your attorney questions your spouse. Furthermore, if there are contested issues of custody and parenting time and/or if there are assets that need to be valued, such as real estate or a business, those evaluations occur during this time period with the assistance of experts.

Once discovery is completed there are certain initiatives organized by the court to assist you in trying to reach a settlement of your case. One such initiative is called Early Settlement Panel, where approximately two attorneys volunteer their time to sit as panelists and hear from your counsel the merits of your positions in your divorce. At the conclusion of that presentation, the panelists will offer a non-binding and confidential assessment of how they would resolve your case based on their experience. If your case does not settle at Early Settlement Panel, then you are provided the opportunity to go on to Economic Mediation. During Economic Mediation, attorneys who are qualified mediators volunteer approximately two hours of their time to again hear from you and your counsel and try to help you reach a resolution of your open issues. With both Early Settlement Panel and Economic Mediation, your spouse and his/her attorney also present their position. At the conclusion of Economic Mediation you report back to the judge assigned to your case to advise the court of the status of your case. If at the end of Economic Mediation your case is still not settled, then the court will likely schedule an in-court settlement conference and/or a trial date.

The above offers a quick summary of the general process of a divorce. Subjective circumstances of an individual case can certainly cause a case to evolve in a variety of different directions. A complicated custody dispute can also make a divorce more involved, although courts do prioritize custody matters and try to expedite those cases, preferably within a six month period of time tolling from the filing date of the Complaint for Divorce. It is also important to keep in mind that with the assistance of counsel and cooperation from the parties, even complicated matters can be solved expeditiously. Every divorce varies according to your situation.

An Uncontested Divorce is a way majority people get a divorce. It is very basic and the most inexpensive way to divorce. It gives you and your spouse a chance to end your marriage quietly and civilly. An Uncontested Divorce is not right for all divorcing couples.

Advantages of Uncontested Divorce

The advantage of an uncontested divorce is the low cost. An uncontested divorce that stays uncontested is almost always the most inexpensive way of getting a divorce. I am sure the first thing that may go through a person’s mind is “can I afford this divorce”? The simple fact is that any money you can avoid spending on any type of legal fees or mediators, you may be able to use after your divorce or on your children if any. The low cost is not, however, the only advantage of an uncontested divorce. If the level of differences between you and your spouse are kept at ease then you will be able to keep your costs low. The agreements that the two of you will reach in an uncontested divorce and file in the court will be a matter of public record. Nor do the various proposals you discuss as you negotiate an agreement that’s acceptable to both of you.

Now don’t think you have to agree with each other about the issues of your divorce for an uncontested divorce. It is not so much a question of agreement as it is your desire to get through your divorce in a civil matter. If you and your spouse don’t yet agree on all the issues of your divorce that just means you may have some negotiating to do before you finish it.

When an Uncontested Divorce is a Bad Idea

An uncontested divorce is not a good idea when one spouse chooses to belittle or continuously bring up all the faults of the other spouse. When domestic violence is involved, an uncontested divorce is not a good idea either. Uncontested divorce is a bad idea when the parties are not able to speak civilly with one another. If your spouse refuses to have any discussion with you about divorce, and if you’re determined to move forward with the process, any money you spend on an uncontested divorce is likely to be wasted. If you are patient, you may find that your spouse may come around later, but if you are determined to finish it now and your spouse is not cooperating, you may have no choice but to serve them with the normal divorce process and do it the hard way.

The first thing you need to know about uncontested divorce is that the lawyer you get to do your uncontested divorce cannot represent both of you. The courts assume that the spouses in a divorce have different interests. The lawyer must represent one of you and not the other. Uncontested divorce can happen much faster than most people realize.

An uncontested divorce basically all depends on your specific divorce case. If you and your spouse are able to come to an agreement and work civilly together then an uncontested divorce is perfect for you. On that note, if you would like to not only save money but time as well you can try a do it yourself divorce. Simply go to www.mydivorcedocuments.com and look into a specific state down-loadable divorce kit for a low cost and begin your divorce process today!

Back in the day, the idea of divorcing your spouse was a challenge and invariably lead to rumors or innuendos that one spouse must have committed some grounds of divorce as as unspeakable, unsavory or sordid act like committing adultery, spousal abuse or emotional abuse and utilize these as leverage on the assumption they would serve as ammo or the necessary needed proof that your spouse had acted improperly and thus be granted a divorce. Think about that-two adults who wished to make the split almost being forced to attack the other simply to earn the right of being freed of matrimony.

Fortunately, those days are behind us divorcing your spouse is much easier. Most couples can simply divorce sans courthouse using the downloadable divorce kit without the stigma and horror of having you and your family forced to ride the roller coaster of divorce court and the possibility of children having to listen to mom and dads lawyers making each of their parents out to be horrible people. With the theatrics and working knowledge of the courts and the divorce process some lawyers are very adept at stretching a court case out far longer then it other wise would need to be.

If there are children involved-avoiding the courtroom altogether is the best decision possible as it considers the feelings of children and avoids the high probability of humiliation and trauma of sitting and listening hearing about mom or dads worse personal traits paraded through the court.
All states nowadays allow for “no fault”, “no contest”, or uncontested divorce which essentially means that both spouses can agree on the terms of a divorce and amicably work out their own settlement. Considered in this process is the sorting out of assets and loans, cars and houses, child custody, alimony etc etc.

With the notion of a long term courtship or knowing your soul mate after 10 minutes becoming far less frequent- we have seen a distinct rise in couples who are either getting married far too young or simply getting married after a very short time after meeting. As much as we smirk and snicker at the idea of a downloadable divorce kit; A “no contest’” divorce also has the benefit in that a couple can simply decide to split without having to give a reason.

And without question in almost all instances an uncontested divorce kit will surely avoid attorneys, lawyers, and court rooms which also equates to a “no contest” divorce being far more cost effective. Basically seeing both spouses work out the details by themselves to the benefit off all parties involved in an adult, rational decision.

The court case is over and the papers have been filed, the signatures have been applied with the I’s dotted and the T’s thoroughly crossed. If you completed a no fault uncontested divorce using an online divorce kit it probably means a better position for both parties. If you are a man it means being able to catch a football game with the guys whenever you like without asking for permission. For Women it means being able to spend more time with a close friend and visit all of the places you couldn’t visit when you were married. And once again the possibilities of dating and new exciting relationships linger and ever present.

The facts are though that dating post-divorce can be an exciting yet scary thing. Of course a lot of your attitude will depend on how your divorce went. A no fault uncontested amicable divorce will allow you to enter the new realm on a positive note; while a bitter divorce that may not have ended with the results you wanted may leave you timid, angry, bitter and in no position to once again be the life of the party you were pre-marriage. Every potential dating prospect may remind you of your ex which may set off a self fulfilling prophecy. If you are coming out of a long term marriage the dating game has drastically changed.

New found freedom post-divorce especially after a time consuming relationship can be a wonderful chance for you to get in touch with yourself. This is also a great time to pick up old hobbies or learn more of subjects of interest hat you’ve always wanted more information about but simply didn’t have the time due to marital and familial obligations. It is a shame more dont give out this type of divorce information. Go out and try something new! Make sure you are emotionally prepared and honest with yourself that you are prepared to enter the dating game. Do not look for a new relationship as a band aid or some sort of bridge.

When you take the first baby step into the dating game, tread lightly and slowly. Consider if you are one who likes group settings or more intimate company. There is nothing wrong with preferring conversation to a loud and noisy nightclub. If you used downloadable divorce forms you are probably aware of the new realms offered online. The Internet has opened up an entire new world allowing chat and email communication which means you will probably know far more about your dating partner then the old days of blind dates and pick up joints. Another benefit of online correspondence? You can take the relationship on your pace and terms; not to mention knowing your next date has at least moderate typing and computer skills.

Take advantage of the scenery change! Did you ex take up activities you didn’t like or had some personality quirks you found grating? Look at this as the opportunity to find your soul mate. If you ex had light skin and red hair you can opt for a more dark complected partner. If your partner wasnt the most talented you can find a Karaoke Buddy to spend time with. The Ex was stingy or obsessed with money? Some local art classes or community theater may all provide options for those with a taste for the arts over that of the Benjamins. Do not settle for less! This is a fantastic opportunity to do things on your terms-and if you remarry maybe the last for quite sometime. But remember- if the next marriage doesnt work out there is always do it yourself divorce courtesy of MyDivorceDocuments.com.